As reported in The Guardian, Facebook are asking those who may have shared explicit photos through Messenger them to share the snaps with them so Facebook can identify any attempts to share it further online.

While it may seem a bit contradictory that people who are worried about their nude photos being shared are online are now being asked to share these photos with an anonymous tech giant, Facebook have insisted that the images will only be stored for a short period of time before being deleted.

Facebook’s Head of Global Safety, Antigone Davis

The trial programme began in Australia and has since been phased out to operate in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Speaking about the programme, Facebook’s Head of Global Safety, Antigone Davis stated that it would greatly help Facebook’s ongoing efforts to combat the sharing of explicit images online.

“The safety and well-being of the Facebook community is our top priority,” Ms Davis said.

“This pilot has the potential to disable the control and power perpetrators hold over victims, particularly in cases of ex-partner retribution and sextortion, and the subsequent harm that could come to them.”

While they will definitely be commended for the efforts to combat this problem, this whole programme and its success will boil down to one simple question: